BY THE NUMBERS: 422 – Cam Newton’s yards passing last time he played at Arizona’s University of Phoenix Stadium. It set a record for a NFL debut, easily surpassed the previous record set 61 years earlier by Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Otto Graham.

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Panthers defensive front against Cardinals QB Carson Palmer. Palmer is a veteran who has earned the respect of Carolina, but he’s also guided his team to only 20 points and two touchdowns in the last two weeks. He’ll be facing what he calls a “very, very good front seven” that includes Greg Hardy. Hardy, you may recall, ended Palmer’s Oakland Raiders’ career late last season with a hard hit on a sack that caused cracked ribs and a bruised lung in the Panthers’ 17-6 win over the Raiders in last year’s home finale on Dec. 23.

NOTABLE: First-year Cardinals general manager Steve Keim was promoted by the team after 14 years in the organization – and after briefly spending time as strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater of N.C. State. Keim was a two-time All-ACC offensive lineman for the Wolfpack before a brief professional playing career….

Cardinals defensive line coach Brentson Buckner played at Clemson and was a Panthers defensive lineman from 2001 to 2005….

Cardinals linebacker John Abraham (Timmonsville, S.C. and University of South Carolina), safety Justin Bethel (Blythewood, S.C. and Presbyterian), wide receiver Jaron Brown (Cheraw, S.C. and Clemson), running back Andre Ellington (Moncks Corner, S.C. and Clemson), wide receiver Andre Roberts (Columbia, S.C. and The Citadel), linebacker Jasper Brinkley (South Carolina) and offensive guard Jonathan Cooper (Wilmington and North Carolina) have strong ties to the Carolinas, though Cooper (leg) is a rookie first-round pick who is out for the season due to injury….

First-year Cardinals coach Bruce Arians had 20 years of NFL experience and 14 years of college experience before getting his first head coaching job. Arians did serve as Indianapolis Colts’ interim coach last season during Chuck Pagano’s absence while being treated for leukemia and guided the Colts to a 9-3 record….

Greg Olsen’s streak of games with at least one catch is at 97, dating to his rookie season of 2007. Only two tight ends have longer streaks – Dallas’ Jason Witten (159 games) and Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez (106).

PREDICTION: Carolina 21, Arizona 13. Expect the Panthers’ defense to stay hot and pressure the Cardinals’ struggling offense and defy their historic struggles after the bye week; Carolina is a mere 8-10 in games after the bye in their history.